Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port, Marseille

Vieux Port

Advantages: A unique city, full of history and character
Disadvantages: Racy reputation, some grim districts

the station approaches are being rebuilt, and we were there at the height of a summer heatwave. A little shabby and seedy in places - in the streets near the station dubious-looking characters are selling oddments of merchandise, old and new, from suitcases or makeshift stalls - but it is easy to ignore their blandishments. This is the Quartier Belsunce, the old Arab quarter, but we are soon through it and into the business district behind the Vieux Port. The Vieux Port is the ancient centre of Marseille, the inlet that formed the original harbour. It is no longer used by serious shipping. New docks, container and ferry terminals have been constructed along the coast to the north, leaving the Vieux Port to cope only with pleasure craft, of which there are plenty. The masts of myriad yachts jut up from the moorings like the bristles ...

torr 26.07.2006 (27.07.2006) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Marseille (France)

Marseille - culture - climate =beau

Advantages: Gorgeous Climate, Beautiful Culture, Picture moment Scenaries
Disadvantages: driving(?)

around France you find alot of lavender fields, - purple flowers which give a great smell, the roads can be quiet depending on which areas you visit. In marseille itself there are lots of ports and harbours you will see with boats and stuff. Overall the atmosphere of Marseille - created by the french language, the locals, the serenity and most of all the climate make marseille a great relaxing destination filled with culture. Ive got some amazzzinnggg pictures and my home video of the holiday. I might upload some pictures to my website or to Ciao at a later date. You can contact me for pictures through my site www.mopages.co.nr Overall I would strongly recommend a trip to Marseille - unless your into night-clubbing etc - though i heard marseille has them i never saw them. Marseille would be loved by slightly older people - though ...

f18nfz 21.07.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Marseille

Marseille

Advantages: An interesting Vieux Port (old port) area, good accommodation options nearby
Disadvantages: A noticeably high crime rate, not a great deal to see outside the port and coast areas

A “reputation for roguishness and danger”, as an older edition of our guidebook states, at first seemed a rather strange claim to make about Marseille. Regrettably, however, crime rates here are among the highest in France, and our own impressions could do nothing but strengthen this view. I had first visited the city two years ago, in the summer of 1999. That time, I had stayed in a pleasant (though rather unhygienic) youth hostel far from the Vieux Port area, and had avoided any kind of mishap whatsoever. This was still true after a confused two-hour walk back to my accommodation (after the Metro had unexpectedly shut down on Sunday evening), which took me through dark alleyways of the worst description. In fact, it was only other people that ever appeared to hold a grudge against Marseille’s inhabitants ...

Marechal_Grouchy 17.09.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Marseille (France)